Salvos call for a re-think on alcohol advertising

The Salvation Army is urging Hunter residents to get behind their call for a re-think on they way alcohol is advertised during sport.

As part of its Alcohol Awareness Week, the Salvos have released new research showing more than 70 per cent of regional Australians believe alcohol and sport are too closely related.

The survey also found more than 60 per cent believe alcohol sponsorship of sport should be phased out.

Salvos spokesman Craig Stevens says it is time the Federal Government reviewed alcohol advertising.

"Just need to see some action in relation to the regulation of that," he said.

"The Federal Government has got to prioritise advertising because there is a clear link with sport and young people and we want our kids to be enjoying the richness of Saturday afternoon footy and so on."

Mr Stevens says a large percentage of regional Australians also believe the amount of alcohol advertising that people under 25 see is actually encouraging them to drink more."70 per cent of those surveyed believe that advertising is deliberately encouraging us to drink more and for young people to drink more and that's a real concern for us," he said.

"That's playing out in some of the binge drinking challenges with some of the younger population as well."